Irrigation System

ABSTRACT

An irrigation system for use with a spa includes a water heating circuit, an automatic water fill valve connected to a water source, and an irrigation pump in fluid communication with the spa through a first irrigation line and electrically connected to a power source through a switch arrangement. The irrigation pump is adapted to pump water to at least one irrigation head. The automatic water fill valve then refills the spa from the water source. The system may include a fertilizer injector, a skin-product injector, a water softener, and various sensors running through an irrigation application on a smart phone to control the irrigation system and operation of the spa. The system may be installed

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to irrigation systems, and more particularly toan irrigation system for use in conjunction with a hot tub.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

One drawback of a hot tub or spa is the need for strong sanitizingchemicals such as chlorine or bromine, which can adversely affect auser's skin and eyes. Such chemicals must be used, however, since thewater in a typical hot tub or spa is recirculated sometimes for years.Meanwhile, residences and other locations that have such a spa oftenalso have an irrigation system for watering landscaping plants andlawns. If the water in the spa was used for irrigation and then refilledwith fresh water from a water source such as a well or municipal waterutility, there would be no need to add harsh sanitizing chemicals to thewater in the spa since it will quickly be used for irrigation andreplaced with fresh water.

Therefore, there is a need for a system that provides for irrigation byutilizing spa water and replenishing the spa water with fresh water froma fresh water source. Such a needed system would allow for the additionof fertilizing agents into the water before the water is pumped intoirrigation heads, skin conditioning substances into the spa water, andsoftening of the water. Such a needed invention would be controllablefrom an application running on a user's smart phone, and would alert theuser if any of various sensors detect a fault condition. The presentinvention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is an irrigation system for use with a hot tub or spahaving a water heating circuit and an automatic water fill valveconnected to a water source through a source line. The source line mayoptionally include a water softening unit disposed therealong forreducing hard minerals within the water entering the irrigation systemthrough the source line. In some embodiments the irrigation system isadded to an existing spa having the water heating circuit and theautomatic water fill valve connected with the water source. In otherembodiments, the irrigation system includes the spa, the water heatingcircuit, and the automatic water fill valve.

The irrigation system comprises an irrigation pump in fluidcommunication with the spa through a first irrigation line andelectrically connected to a power source through a switch arrangement.The irrigation pump is adapted to pump tempered water out of the spa andinto a second irrigation line that has at least one irrigation head.Many plants are beneficially watered with tempered water instead ofcold, city-line water.

As such, when the switch arrangement connects the irrigation pump to thepower source, water is pumped from the spa to the second irrigation lineand out of the at least one irrigation head. The automatic water fillvalve then refills the spa from the water source when a water level inthe spa is below a predetermine threshold.

Preferably the second irrigation line further includes a pressure sensoradapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigation line whenthe irrigation pump is activated and for activating alower-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm. The second irrigation line mayfurther include a fertilizer injector unit for injecting a fertilizingsubstance into the second irrigation line when the irrigation pump isactivated. The second irrigation line may further include a fertilizerinjector unit for injecting a fertilizing substance into the secondirrigation line when the irrigation pump is activated.

The switch arrangement preferably further includes a controller circuitconnected with the power source, and at least a timer arrangement and amanual switch. The timer arrangement is configured for receiving anirrigation schedule and activating the irrigation pump in accordancethereto. Preferably the controller circuit further includes a wirelesstransceiver adapted to interface with a smart phone of the user, thesmart phone running an irrigation software application. The irrigationschedule may be entered on the smart phone and wirelessly transmitted tothe controller circuit.

In some embodiments, wherein the water heating circuit is of the typethat includes a heating pump adapted to pump water out of the spa andinto a water heating unit through a first heating line, and out of thewater heating unit and back into the spa through a second heating line,the irrigation system further includes a product injector unit forinjecting a skin conditioning substance into the second heating linebetween the water heating unit and the spa when the heating pump isactive. The product injector unit may further include as product levelsensor configured for communicating a sensed low level of the skinconditioning substance within the product injector unit to thecontroller circuit. The controller circuit, in embodiments having thewireless transceiver, are configured to communicate a low-productnotification to the person's smart phone and the irrigation application.

The irrigation system may further includes a water level sensor disposedwithin the spa and adapted for communicating a sensed low water levelsignal to the controller circuit. The controller circuit is configuredto deactivate the irrigation pump when receiving the low water levelsignal from the water level sensor. In embodiments having the wirelesstransceiver, the controller circuit is configured to communicate the lowwater level notification to the person's smart phone and the irrigationapplication.

The present invention is a system that provides for irrigation byutilizing tempered spa water and replenishing the spa water with freshwater from a fresh water source. The present system allows for theaddition of fertilizing agents into the water before the water is pumpedinto irrigation heads, skin conditioning substances into the spa water,and softening of the water. The present invention is controllableutilizing a software application running on a user's smart phone, andalerts the user if any of various sensors detect a fault condition.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating an interface screen of a software applicationfor controlling the irrigation system as being executed on a mobilesmart phone;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating an interface screen for controlling the waterpump, water temperature, lighting, and the like, in a spa;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating an interface screen for controlling irrigationschedules that are performed by the system;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating a low-pressure/irrigation leak alert;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating a low-potassium notification; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an interface screen of a control system of theinvention, illustrating a low-product notification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. Thefollowing explanation provides specific details for a thoroughunderstanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. Oneskilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practicedwithout such details. In other instances, well-known structures andfunctions have not been shown or described in detail to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or pluralnumber also include the plural or singular number respectively.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Whenthe claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or moreitems, that word covers all of the following interpretations of theword: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and anycombination of the items in the list. When the word “each” is used torefer to an element that was previously introduced as being at least onein number, the word “each” does not necessarily imply a plurality of theelements, but can also mean a singular element.

FIG. 1 illustrates an irrigation system 10 for use with a hot tub or spa20 having a water heating circuit 30 and an automatic water fill valve40 connected to a water source 15 through a source line 16. The sourceline 16 may optionally include a water softening unit 180 disposedtherealong for reducing hard minerals within the water entering theirrigation system 10 through the source line 16. In some embodiments theirrigation system 10 is added to an existing spa 20 having the waterheating circuit 30, which is typically an electric heater 37 (FIG. 1),and/or the automatic water fill valve 40 connected with the water source15. In other embodiments, the irrigation system 10 includes the spa 20,the water heating circuit 30, and the automatic water fill valve 40. Thespa 20 may also include a sterilizing apparatus such as an ozonegenerator 39 (FIG. 1) for sterilizing the water as it circulatesthroughout the system 10.

The irrigation system 10 comprises an irrigation pump 50 in fluidcommunication with the spa 20 through a first irrigation line 60 andelectrically connected to a power source 17 through a switch arrangement70. The irrigation pump 50 is adapted to pump water out of the spa 20and into a second irrigation line 62 that has at least one irrigationhead 80.

As such, when the switch arrangement 70 connects the irrigation pump 50to the power source 17, water is pumped from the spa 20 to the secondirrigation line 62 and out of the at least one irrigation head 80. Theautomatic water fill valve 40 then refills the spa 20 from the watersource 15 when a water level in the spa is below a predeterminethreshold.

Preferably the second irrigation line 62 further includes a pressuresensor 90 adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigationline 62 when the irrigation pump 50 is activated and for activating alower-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm 99. The second irrigation line 62may further include a fertilizer injector unit 140 for injecting afertilizing substance into the second irrigation line 62 when theirrigation pump 50 is activated. The second irrigation line 62 mayfurther include (or only include) a hose bib (not shown) with amanually-actuated valve between the fertilizer injector unit 140 and theirrigation pump 50 for providing a pressurized water source to a hose(not shown), a washing machine (not shown), or the like or the like.

The switch arrangement 70 preferably further includes a controllercircuit 100 connected with the power source 17, and at least a timerarrangement 110 and a manual switch 120. The timer arrangement 110 isconfigured for receiving an irrigation schedule 130 and activating theirrigation pump 50 in accordance thereto. The manual switch 120 isadapted or configured to activate the irrigation pump 50 upon manualactuation thereof.

Preferably the controller circuit 100 further includes a wirelesstransceiver 160 adapted to interface with a smart phone 18 of the user,the smart phone 18 running an irrigation software application 170. Theirrigation schedule 130 may be entered on the smart phone 18 andwirelessly transmitted to the controller circuit 100.

Further, embodiments including the controller circuit 100 may alsoinclude the pressure sensor 90, such that the controller circuitreceives initiates the low-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm 99 and mayfurther send such an alarm 99 to the smart phone 18 to alert the user ofa low-pressure/irrigation-leak condition. Further, embodiments with thewireless transceiver 160 may include the controller circuit 100controlling the water heating unit 33 and heating pump 31, such controlbeing extended to the irrigation application 170 for controlling theheating of the water in the spa 20 via one's smart phone 18.

Embodiments that include the controller circuit 100 and installed inenvironments wherein the water source line 16 includes the watersoftening unit 180 may also include a potassium level sensor 190 adaptedfor communicating a sensed low level of potassium substance 185 withinthe water softening unit 180 to the controller circuit 100. In such anembodiment the controller circuit 100 is adapted for communication alow-potassium notification 195 to the person's smart phone 18 and theirrigation application 170. Potassium is preferably used as a watersoftening agent instead of salt so that the irrigation system can beused with plants, which are averse to salt.

Preferably the second irrigation line 62 further includes a pressuresensor 90 adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigationline 62 when the irrigation pump 50 is activated and for activating alower-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm 99. The second irrigation line 62may further include a fertilizer injector unit 140 for injecting afertilizing substance into the second irrigation line 62 when theirrigation pump 50 is activated.

In some embodiments, wherein the water heating circuit 30 is of the typethat includes a heating pump 31 adapted to pump water out of the spa 20and into a water heating unit 33 through a first heating line 32, andout of the water heating unit 33 and back into the spa 20 through asecond heating line 34, the irrigation system 10 further includes aproduct injector unit 150 for injecting a skin conditioning substance155 into the second heating line 34 between the water heating unit 33and the spa 20 when the heating pump 31 is active. The product injectorunit 150 may further include a s product level sensor 200 configured forcommunicating a sensed low level of the skin conditioning substance 155within the product injector unit 150 to the controller circuit 100. Thecontroller circuit 100, in embodiments having the wireless transceiver160, are configured to communicate a low-product notification 205 to theperson's smart phone 18 and the irrigation application 170. Further, thecontroller circuit 100 may be configured to inject the skin conditioningsubstance 155 only when a person is heating and using the spa 20 in aspa mode, as opposed to when the spa 20 is only being used as areservoir for irrigation.

Such a water heating unit 33 is preferably an “instant” type gas-fueledwater heater 33, which is typically more efficient than the electedheating unit 37 included with most prior art spas 20. As such,preferably the controller circuit 100 provides for bypassing theelectric heating unit 37 and heating the water with the water heatingunit 33 when the user desires to utilize the spa 20. The water heatingunit 33 can be used, therefore, upon refilling the spa 20 or whendesiring to heat-up the water in the spa 20.

Preferably the irrigation system 10 further includes a water levelsensor 210 disposed within the spa 20 and adapted for communicating asensed low water level signal to the controller circuit 100. Thecontroller circuit 100 is configured to deactivate the irrigation pump50 when receiving the low water level signal from the water level sensor210. In embodiments having the wireless transceiver 160, the controllercircuit 100 is configured to communicate the low water levelnotification 215 to the person's smart phone 18 and the irrigationapplication 170.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except asby the appended claims.

Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but alsoall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention.

The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned inthis disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachingsof the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, notnecessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments.

All of the above patents and applications and other references,including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and conceptsof the various references described above to provide yet furtherembodiments of the invention.

Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “DetailedDescription.” While the above description details certain embodiments ofthe invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter howdetailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced inmany ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably whilestill being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As notedabove, particular terminology used when describing certain features oraspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that theterminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specificcharacteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which thatterminology is associated.

While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certainclaim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of theinvention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventorreserves the right to add additional claims after filing the applicationto pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An irrigation system for use with a spa having awater heating circuit and an automatic water fill valve connected to awater source through a source line, comprising: an irrigation pump influid communication with the spa through a first irrigation line andelectrically connected to a power source through a switch arrangement,the irrigation pump adapted to pump water out of the spa and into asecond irrigation line that has at least one irrigation head; wherebywhen the switch arrangement connects the irrigation pump to the powersource, water is pumped from the spa to the second irrigation line andout of the at least one irrigation head, the automatic water fill valverefilling the spa from the water source when a water level in the spa isbelow a predetermined threshold.
 2. The irrigation system of claim 1wherein the second irrigation line further includes a pressure sensoradapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigation line whenthe irrigation pump is activated and for activating alow-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm.
 3. The irrigation system of claim 1wherein the switch arrangement includes a controller circuit connectedwith the power source and having at least a timer arrangement and amanual switch, the timer arrangement adapted for receiving an irrigationschedule and activating the irrigation pump in accordance thereto, themanual switch adapted to activate the irrigation pump upon manualactuation thereof.
 4. The irrigation system of claim 3 wherein thesecond irrigation line further includes a fertilizer injector unit forinjecting a fertilizing substance into the second irrigation line whenthe irrigation pump is activated.
 5. The irrigation system of claim 3wherein the water heating circuit includes a heating pump adapted topump water out of the spa and into a water heating unit through a firstheating line, out of the water heating unit and back into the spathrough a second heating line, the irrigation system further including aproduct injector unit for injecting a skin conditioning substance intothe second heating line between the water heating unit and the spa whenthe heating pump is active.
 6. The irrigation system of claim 3 whereinthe controller circuit includes a wireless transceiver adapted tointerface with a smart phone running an irrigation application, andwherein the irrigation schedule may be entered on the smart phone andwirelessly transmitted to the controller circuit.
 7. The irrigationsystem of claim 6 wherein the second irrigation line further includes apressure sensor adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the secondirrigation line when the irrigation pump is activated and for activatinga low-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm on the person's smart phone.
 8. Theirrigation system of claim 6 wherein the controller circuit is furtheradapted to control the water heating circuit via instructions sent bythe person's smart phone through the irrigation application.
 9. Theirrigation system of claim 1 further including a water softening unitdisposed along the source line, the water softening unit adapted toreduce hard minerals within the water entering the irrigation systemthrough the source line.
 10. The irrigation system of claim 6 furtherincluding a water softening unit disposed along the source line, thewater softening unit adapted to reduce hard minerals within the waterentering the irrigation system through the source line and furtherincluding a potassium level sensor adapted for communicating a sensedlow level of a potassium substance within the water softening unit tothe controller circuit, the controller circuit adapted for communicatinga low-potassium notification to the person's smart phone and theirrigation application.
 11. The irrigation system of claim 5 wherein theproduct injector unit further including a product level sensor adaptedfor communicating a sensed low level of the skin conditioning substancewithin the product injector unit to the controller circuit, thecontroller circuit adapted for communicating a low-product notificationto the person's smart phone and the irrigation application.
 12. Theirrigation system of claim 3 further including a water level sensordisposed within the spa and adapted for communicating a sensed low levelof water within the spa to the controller circuit, the controllercircuit adapted for deactivating the irrigation pump when receiving alow level of water within the spa notification from the water levelsensor.
 13. A combination irrigation system and spa comprising: a spahaving a water heating circuit and an automatic water fill valveconnected to a water source through a source line, the water heatingcircuit including a heating pump adapted to pump water out of the spaand into a water heating unit through a first heating line, and then outof the water heating unit and back into the spa through a second heatingline; an irrigation pump in fluid communication with the spa through afirst irrigation line and electrically connected to a power sourcethrough a switch arrangement, the irrigation pump adapted to pump waterout of the spa and into a second irrigation line that has at least oneirrigation head; whereby when the switch arrangement connects theirrigation pump to the power source, water is pumped from the spa to thesecond irrigation line and out of the at least one irrigation head, theautomatic water fill valve refilling the spa from the water source whena water level in the spa is below a predetermined threshold, the switcharrangement further adapted to connect the heating pump to the powersource to heat the water in the spa.
 14. The irrigation system of claim13 wherein the second irrigation line further includes a pressure sensoradapted for sensing a pressure drop in the second irrigation line whenthe irrigation pump is activated and for activating alow-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm.
 15. The irrigation system of claim13 wherein the switch arrangement includes a controller circuitconnected with the power source and having at least a timer arrangementand a manual switch, the timer arrangement adapted for receiving anirrigation schedule and activating the irrigation pump in accordancethereto, the manual switch adapted to activate the irrigation pump uponmanual actuation thereof.
 16. The irrigation system of claim 15 whereinthe second irrigation line further includes a fertilizer injector unitfor injecting a fertilizing substance into the second irrigation linewhen the irrigation pump is activated.
 17. The irrigation system ofclaim 15 wherein the water heating circuit further includes a productinjector unit for injecting a skin conditioning substance into thesecond heating line between the water heating unit and the spa when theheating pump is active.
 18. The irrigation system of claim 15 whereinthe controller circuit includes a wireless transceiver adapted tointerface with a smart phone running an irrigation application, andwherein the irrigation schedule may be entered on the smart phone andwirelessly transmitted to the controller circuit.
 19. The irrigationsystem of claim 18 wherein the second irrigation line further includes apressure sensor adapted for sensing a pressure drop in the secondirrigation line when the irrigation pump is activated and for activatinga low-pressure/irrigation-leak alarm on the person's smart phone. 20.The irrigation system of claim 18 wherein the controller circuit isfurther adapted to control the water heating circuit via instructionssent by the person's smart phone through the irrigation application. 21.The irrigation system of claim 1 further including a water softeningunit disposed along the source line, the water softening unit adapted toreduce hard minerals within the water entering the irrigation systemthrough the source line.
 22. The irrigation system of claim 18 furtherincluding a water softening unit disposed along the source line, thewater softening unit adapted to reduce hard minerals within the waterentering the irrigation system through the source line and furtherincluding a potassium level sensor adapted for communicating a sensedlow level of a potassium substance within the water softening unit tothe controller circuit, the controller circuit adapted for communicatinga low-potassium notification to the person's smart phone and theirrigation application.
 23. The irrigation system of claim 17 whereinthe product injector unit further including a product level sensoradapted for communicating a sensed low level of the skin conditioningsubstance within the product injector unit to the controller circuit,the controller circuit adapted for communicating a low-productnotification to the person's smart phone and the irrigation application.24. The irrigation system of claim 15 further including a water levelsensor disposed within the spa and adapted for communicating a sensedlow level of water within the spa to the controller circuit, thecontroller circuit adapted for deactivating the irrigation pump whenreceiving a low level of water within the spa notification from thewater level sensor.